[Slate] The Difference Between Opinion and Bias

Perhaps, but every true journalist will bust a gut trying. That's why I revere certain reporters. That is why I am brutally harsh when journalists shame their forebears -- not necessarily for failing but for failing to understand and honor their responsibility.

e.) Most media outlets do not have a loyalty litmus test like Fox. The favoritism exhibited is a bending over backwards for the right wing.

Agree. Switching among news channels to glean the whole truth is quite annoying. I find that listening to Fox News makes me limp to the right and listening to CNN makes me limp to the left. Filtering the spin from each puts me on an even keel, but it's work we shouldn't have to do.

Where is Mr. Deckard? Sir, your always rational, general comment is needed in this thread.

 

What you want is a stenographer.

 

Now thumbs, you're going to make me blush.

We have opposite reactions to Fox and CNN. When I watch Fox, it makes me lurch to the left, and when I watch CNN... uh, it makes me just frustrated.

Jeff and Doctor Robert, thumbs and I remember the days of network news when journalists like Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley, and David Brinkley spoke volumes by slightly raising an eyebrow. They bent over backwards to present the news, as best they could, with their personal opinions left to the side, and to let the viewer draw their own conclusions. The rare moments when they did raise that eyebrow could cause many conversations at water coolers across the country.

In short, it couldn't be more different from the vast majority of today's news presentation, where the anchor and the "correspondents" fight each other for face time... the news being a football, with whoring for ratings the game.




Keep D&D Civil!!
And your eyes open!

 

I actually try and keep up somewhat with Al Jazeera website in English at the Al Jazeera.net site. I don't follow it daily, but I do check in from time to time, I missed their opinion laden piece where they advocate beheading. Do you have any infor on this?

 

Facts in themselves don't always produce the the enlightened view. They may and usually do enlighten the truth of most issues.

I agree with you most of the time as to the way the press should report. But I believe there are cases such as slavery where the press doesn't need to pretend that both sides of the issue have a valid right to their belief. I think a good reporter will present the feelings of both sides, and facts from both sides, but it doesn't need to be presented as if mankind doesn't know whether it's right or wrong. I wasn't referring to enlightenment about just one thing, but an overall view of enlightenment.

This isn't something that only I am supporting. Journalism professors were discussing this very thing on NPR the other evening. It's what influenced my own opinion on the matter.

 

Your response makes no sense. I can dictate my thoughts directly into my computer without need for an intermediary.

However, if you wish to contribute to the dialogue, your insights, where germane, are always welcome.

 

Thumbs, you've come a long way from, "Two thumbs up!" signature sign offs..

That said, I think you'd enjoy Fallows book, Breaking the News

 

It was always "me." Back then, whenever I achieved senior status, I changed my moniker to assume a different newbie personna. Don't ask me why -- it's just part of my perverse sense of humor.

The "thumbs up, thumbs down" joke wore thin for all concerned so I left it behind. Incidentally, you might be surprised how long I've actually been around this BBS.

P.S. I'll look for your book suggestion when I visit the bookstore tomorrow. I'm sure it will be a "thumbs up."